In this recently published article Is Facebook the New Reality TV? in Psychology Today, Dr. Goal Saedi questions how Facebook is changing our lives and the psychological impact it may have on us.
When I started reading this article, I was first captivated by her description of being in an ornate, peaceful church disrupted by others snapping photos. It immediately brought me back to my summer trip to Europe, where my husband and I visited countless churches including the awesome St. Peter's Basilica and breathtaking Notre Dame Cathedral. As tourists, we certainly took our share of photos, but at times I did feel like I was missing out on the experience, too worries about capturing it to revisit later. Of course, we were able to access wifi and upload several pictures to emails and facebook. I even created an album entitled: "A Few from Along the Way" for my friends and family to track our trip. Why did I feel the need to do this? Of course, with no one in my family ever traveling out of the country, I felt incredibly grateful to have the chance to share my trip with them....but I could have just done that via email. Why did I feel the need to share my experience with my 718 "friends" (most of whom I likely will never see again in real life).
As Dr. Saedi writes, it is hard to ignore how Facebook shoves everyone's successes in our face. It seems we all are captivated by each others' lives and are constantly comparing our own to theirs. Does this make us feel worse about ourselves? I often remind students that no one wants to post pictures of what their boring weekends look like...only the fun times at parties with friends. Then again, I've noticed the recent Instagram tags #WIDN (What I'm Doing Now) where people post their actual momentary happenings...such as sipping coffee, organizing clothes, or lounging on the couch with their dog. While it seems more "realistic" it still does keep us in the constant "what is everyone else's life like" mode.
What do you think? Has Facebook taken over your life in this way? Is this a good or bad thing? Do you find yourself comparing your successes and failures to others? Do you think that your college process has been/will be influenced by facebook (think... "she goes to ___ college and her pics look fun so I want to go there..." or... "She goes to ___ Univ. and it looks SO boringgggg...." ..or... "I'm friending my roommate today to see if I like her..."). What are the pros and cons to these situations? If you do not have Facebook, tell us why! Do you ever feel "left out" of what's going on with everyone else?
Read the article and share your opinions. Don't just repeat what others say.... share your experiences, link us to other articles, show us proof...
p.s. as I wrote this, I did not capitalize Facebook in one spot and it was highlighted as a spelling error....seems that the term is now in our dictionaries... what's next?
Although Facebook has continued to grow over the years, despite the boom of other social networks like Twitter and Instagram, I think that the fad is starting to fade--at least for girls my age. I just deactivated my Facebook two days ago, joining a few other of my close friends who have taken a break from the site for a while. There's no doubt in my mind that I will reactivate it in the near future, but for right now I found the endless, thoughtless scrolling of my newsfeed to not only be a waste of time, but made me feel like somewhat of a stalker. Usually the newsfeed would lead me to someone's photo album of the previous night, and suddenly I end up knowing way too much about a girl I don't even say hello to in the hallway.
ReplyDeleteInterestingly enough, this week's issue of Upfront magazine, handed out by my history teacher, had an article about Facebook in it. It discussed how the trend is dying down, at least in the US. This year, while Brazil topped the charts with over 14 million new Facebook users, the US was the 24th country--with only over 600 thousand new years. While that's still a huge number, I'd be more interesting in seeing the number of Facebook users who have had active accounts for over a year, and have chosen to deactivate their accounts. Some students in the article attribute their deactivation to a lack of privacy, while others just see it as a waste of time. I think the privacy issue is one many Facebook users have a love-hate relationship with: while sometimes you want your life to be private, other times you want to share it with the world--and purposely upload 200 pictures of one night out. And everyone has their own definition for what "stalking" is--but Facebook makes it too easy to end up on your friend's boyfriend's cousin's page. So while we might not intentionally stalk someone, I think we're all guilty of spending a little too much time clicking through someone's page.
For right now, I think my break from Facebook is the best idea as I try to focus on college applications and the beginning on this senior year. Between Twitter and Instagram, there are plenty of other ways to stay connected to the people I actually want to talk to. After not using Facebook most of this summer, I can't say I miss my account just yet--but knowing that all it takes is simply a sign in to get my account up and running once more is a comforting fact nonetheless.
I agree with Christina, I believe that the Facebook trend is slowing fading out. But, I also think it is being replaced, like everything else, by other social networking sites like Twitter and Instagram. Doesn't anyone else remembers the Myspace fad? I think that like fashion, social networking sites will always be really popular for a minute before we all move on.
ReplyDeleteLike many others, I have contemplated deactivating my Facebook account, only to find myself unable to. I don't post pictures, status, or even use chat anymore but I do use it for clubs. My cheerleading team and my Youth Group both use Facebook to get information to us. They each have their own page and it is an easy way for me, and everyone involved, to get information quickly. Almost everyone I know has a Facebook so sometimes when I'm having trouble with a homework assignment I'll look to see who's online and the majority of the time I find someone will to help. These are all benefits to Facebook, and I am lucky enough not to be distracted too much by it, so I can keep my account without it seeping into to other parts of my life (school work, stalking ect.)
Its interesting to think that here Facebook is fading, while in other countries it is still very popular. I think most of 'cool things' in other countries are started here, like Facebook, so I'm interested to see what the 'new Facebook' will be.
I think the initial concept of Facebook is an innocent one: connect people, family, and friends from across the globe. But being someone who has subscribed to the site for only a short period of time, I think I can see from an unbiased perspective the ways it is abused. I protested joining the site for a long time because I felt it was dehumanizing: no one spoke face to face anymore. I did create a profile by my junior year, however, with the intention of staying in touch with family members living far away. At least, that was what I told myself. Deep down, I really just felt left out of some social scene, since everyday people were talking about something someone posted on Facebook. Now, however, I better understand the extent of its dehumanization.
ReplyDeleteI feel like we've created an entire other social universe over a website: battles are fought over snide comments and statuses. The number of "likes" you get on your profile picture determines your level of beauty and popularity. Psychologically, I feel we are craving to be socially accepted in this universe. It sounds crazy, but why else do we post 150 pictures of our sleepover, or "share" our stunning yet edited profile picture to get more "likes?" Our profile is our alternate reality. Like the article pointed out, by posting all the great things in our lives, others will think our lives are great too.
So why don't I delete my account? Like I said before...I'd be missing out on something everyone else is involved in. Facebook is now a part of my social life, just like sports and clubs.
This is said from a totally non-judgmental stand. I am sharing my frustration about getting caught up in the same hype, and recognizing that just like in reality, people like to compare each other's lives. Here is an article that supports what I am trying to convey:
http://blogs.iq.harvard.edu/netgov/2009/03/the_social_psychology_of_faceb.html
I agree with this article! The way I see it, people scroll through Facebook in order to compare themselves to others—much like watching reality TV. Let’s face it, watching Jersey Shore is entertaining, but also reminds us of how incredibly intelligent and well adjusted we are. When I visited Germany and Austria this summer with the IHA Europe trip, I was completely disconnected from Facebook and Twitter. Verizon’s data fees in Europe were astronomical and the cost for Wi-Fi at our hotel was even more expensive. To be honest, however, I didn’t have any urge to see what people were doing back home in Jersey! I was better off without those late night scrolls through my News Feed. Facebook often spells out personal details of peoples’ lives that I honestly don’t care about. (Sorry, but whenever people post statuses about stubbing their toe, I log off of the computer completely.) Much like reality TV, Facebook often dramatizes events in people’s lives that are insignificant and shouldn’t be documented in the first place.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what Cristina said about Facebook beginning to become a dying fad, but in many ways we still find ourselves on the social network site when we are procrastinating for a test, searching for information or bored out of our minds. The other day when I had a little too much time on my hands, I caught myself searching through my friends who had recently left for college. I found myself forming opinions on a school I have never visited or sometimes never even heard of. It is not fair that one person's picture has made me a little biased towards the school. Even though I recognize this, I will remember the opinion I formed on Facebook when visiting the college or when I hear people who are attending the college.
ReplyDeleteIn an article called Why Does Using Facebook Feel So Good? by Vinita Mehta, she analyzed the psychological reasons that people go on Facebook. One of the main reasons emphasized is that people go on Facebook because of the desire to belong. Many people feel as though they are missing out on something when they aren't connected to everyone else. Even though people aren't addicted to Facebook anymore, people still feel comforted that they can be contacted or associated an event on Facebook. Like Cristina stated, even though she doesn't have a Facebook right now she feels comforted knowing that she can reactive her Facebook whenever she may need. Even though people may not spend every minute on Facebook anymore, they are comforted by the fact that Facebook still allows them to feel as though they belong to the community.
I'm not sure how to hyperlink so here is the article link:http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-games/201204/why-does-using-facebook-feel-so-good
I agree to some extent that Facebook is not as popular as it was when I was a freshman, but that doesn't necessarily mean it is a dying trend on it's way out. As Kaitlyn said, Facebook is still a prominent means of communication between organizations and clubs, as well as an important tool for keeping in touch with relatives and staying updated on important things in their lives. For example, just last week a friend at work had a grandparent pass away and posted a status "R.I.P. grandpa". When my boss asked why he wasn't at work, neglected to find a cover, and wasn't returning phone calls, I explained what I saw on Facebook. While this is also can also be used as an argument for why Facebook eliminates face to face communication, it doesn't discount the value of the site in everyday life.
ReplyDeleteAnd while we, as high school seniors, are using it less, that may simply be because we have out grown some of the attractions Facebook originally presented. My sister, now a freshman, is constantly on Facebook updating and posting and chatting. The site even added a video chat feature which is becoming of value to many college students who want to see friends and family while away at school.
Is it a possibility that Facebook just isn't as useful or appealing to young adults as it is for pre-teens and teens? And if Facebook IS just a fad, couldn't the same be said for all social networking sites?
This article gives a few good reasons why Facebook is still a dominant social networking site today http://www.streetarticles.com/social-networking/facebook-is-not-a-fad
Let me know what you think!
I totally agree with you. I don't think that Facebook will die away any time soon. It's become such a huge part of our lives. How many times a day do you hear, "I saw on Facebook..."? While I don't necessarily think the good qualities outweigh the bad, I'd bet that in 5, even 10 years, Facebook will still be around and thriving. As for other sites, I also agree that most will be a fad, and others will stick around for awhile, like Twitter. Social networking has just become such a huge part of our lives, particularly adolescences.
DeleteYes, I believe there has been a decrease in activity on Facebook by people our age but I don't think Facebook is a dying fad at all. Regardless, Facebook and other social networks, like Twitter and Instagram, say a lot about today's society. I remember explaining Twitter to my dad and getting comments like "that's the most conceited thing I've ever heard" or the classic "what do you tweet anyway, 'on the toilet, text it'?" Naturally, I defended my old friend, Twitter, and answered stubbornly that he just didn't understand.
ReplyDeleteThe ideas behind Facebook and Twitter aren't much different. We feel the need to update with pictures or statuses exactly what we're doing or how we're feeling. While this concept seems completely ridiculous to outsiders, like my father, there's something about being so connected to your friends and family that is relatively comforting. When I'm excited or even angry, I have the ability to share it on Facebook or Twitter. In some odd way, it's like sharing that news with 943 of my closest friends.
While these websites can lead people to make unfair judgments about others, it's important to remember that, this too, is a two sided coin. If you post pictures of bottles of alcohol everywhere or have 17 albums devoted to your pet turtle, you will most likely be judged.
The beauty of these websites is that whether you believe they are a dying fad, a distraction from college essays, or God's gift to mankind, they are simply what you make of them.
I also agree that Facebook is in some ways losing its popularity. I can remember wasting countless numbers of hours a week on Facebook Freshman and Sophomore year. Although I have not completely lost interest in the Facebook world the amount of hours a log on Facebook have drastically decreased. I do attribute my inability to delete my account to this undeniable feeling of wanting to do belong. I would feel completely out of the loop with my friends and because of this I feel the need to periodically check up on what everyone is doing. I agree with Jessica in that Facebook has changed our generation and it has stripped us of the need for face to face communication. Teenagers feel more confident and tough on Facebook when they are hidden behind their computer screens. I also think that Facebook often dramatizes people lives. I can remember looking at pictures that my friend had uploaded from the previous weekend, and thinking to myself that the party looks way more fun in pictures than it actually was. I think that the main motivation behind uploading pictures is to impress other people.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I do not think that Facebook will ever become last year's trend. Besides "dehumanizing" today's generation Facebook has also lead to a tremendous amount of good. Other than connecting friends and family Facebook is attributed to starting a revolution in Egypt that literally freed a nation of oppressed people. The power that Facebook has is undeniable and I do not think that a social media this popular will ever completely disappear.
The article's really interesting, and I think the author has a good point, there isn't anything wrong with stillness, and sometimes social media does get in the way of enjoying the simplest things in life, but the same thing was said about every great technological invention of our time and the times before us- The television was a thing of the devil according to conservative and religious communities. Radio was a technique for the government to spy on families. The computer was going to take over the world like some B rated science fiction film.
ReplyDeleteFacebook's not a dying fad, in my opinion, just going through a shift in demographic. It began as a way for college kids and exclusively college kids to keep in touch and connect and "take the entire social experience of college and put it online" (as quoted from The Social Network). Now it almost works as a building block for kids to learn how to interact online - what with cyber laws and anti-bullying campaign, the next generation will grow up able to use social networking sites without sending anonymous hate, or harmful messages, and think there will be no consequences. They'll be a generation of socially aware kids, and that's a big step.
I agree with everyone else saying that Facebook has gone down in popularity in the recent year or so. Whether this can be attributed to us maturing or the growth of other social media sites, like twitter and instagram, is yet to be determined; it could even be a combination of the both or other factors as well.
ReplyDeleteBecause of my parents' worries over privacy, I was one of those who was not allowed to have a Facebook until the end of sophomore year, and even then it was because I was involved with student council, and Facebook was our means of communicating. I think that Facebook is best used as a means of mass communication, rather than a way to connect with other people. I mean do we really need to be friends with the girl we met one time that we will never see again in our lives? Another fact of the matter is that Facebook can be used against us. What we know is an inside joke may look like bullying or irresponsibility to a college or job recruiter. My teacher told us last year that when her nephew went to an interview, he was told to log onto his Facebook account and leave the room. There were no subsequent questions or personal interview; the company based everything about him off of what he had on his Facebook page. As far as I'm concerned, I think that this is ridiculous! Facebook rarely shows people who we really are or only shows a single, small facet of our lives.
Like many of the other girls, I have contemplated deactivating my Facebook account but somehow I never actually get around to actually doing it. Moving here from Pittsburgh, I find a certain sense of comfort being able to go on Facebook and see what my friends are up to these days. However, if I'm really going to be true to myself, I know that I'm only actually seeing what my not-so-close friends are doing; my good friends are the ones that actually make the effort to call, text, email, and facetime me to check up on me and let me know what's happening back in PA. I think that we are deluding ourselves to think that we are actually making a personal connection on Facebook, and if you really want to interact with someone on a closer level, make it a little more private than a wall post.
I definitely agree with everyone that Facebook is dying out. But, really, it's only going to be replaced with Twitter, Instagram, and who knows what other new social networking sites. It would be hypocritical for me to say Facebook is wrong or a waste of time because as flawed as I know it is, I have no intention of deleting my account any time soon.
ReplyDeleteI think Facebook completely changed the way we not only communicate, but the way we value ourselves. Like Mrs. Wren said about feeling the need to share pictures on her Euro trip, we all are under constant pressure to share our lives with the world- the exciting parts and the boring parts- as long as we are "fitting in." For example, if a girl was uploading pictures of parties and trips constantly she would have the negative "that girl" connotation immediately. Everyone is striving to be the perfect, balanced girl- one that has fun and takes trips, but also studies, has a job, and plays a sport. It is as if everyone has to constantly prove, with pictures, tweets, and status updates, that they are the normal, multi-talented girl everyone hopes to be.
I think that without social networking, our very existence is debated among others. Sure, we will delete our Facebook, but would any of us really be willing to delete Facebook, twitter, Instagram, and all of our other social networking sites? How would everyone know what we are doing, and that we are leading socially acceptable lives? Today, the only real proof of normalcy, besides truly knowing someone personally, is in social networking. As scary as it is, our generation bases every judgement of a person on their profile- how they look, what they are involved in, and ultimately, how normal they are. Without these sites, a person is just what we perceive them to be when we encounter them in real life- a prospect that, to most of us today, seems far too abstract to actually be reliable.
That was Caroline Morano sorry!
DeleteI agree with pretty much what everyone has said so far, but I also want to go a little deeper into the picture aspect of Facebook. This past summer has been extremely hectic for me. With friends, college searching, visiting people, volunteering, events, etc., I don't have time to take pictures! What is so ironic (and I saw Dr. Saedi briefly addressed this) is that I only posted maybe one or two pictures this whole summer. Towards the end of August all I can remember thinking was "Wow, I have no pictures, everyone is totally going to think I have no life." Meanwhile, the exact opposite is happening. It is when I actually "have a life" that I don't have time to post on Facebook.
ReplyDeleteThe amount of stress placed on the amount of "likes" or "comments" on a picture is also, well, exhausting. This is slightly embarrassing but I know when I first post a new profile picture I ask my best friends to like it so I don't look "weird" for having a picture no one likes. This brings up a total new mind game; why does it feel better for a friend to "like" a picture, even if you just pretty much pressured them into "liking" it? Is it just for show?
The fact that assumptions are made about people by the amount of likes they have on their pictures is also mind-boggling to me. A girl has a profile picture with no "likes"...what do you think? I'd like to say exactly that, that she just has a picture with no likes, but in reality I would probably find that strange. Okay, now on the flip-side; a girl has a profile picture with 400 likes- all from guys. Well, I don't need to say what I would probably think because there's a 99% chance that you are all thinking the same thing.
My point is, pictures used to be taken to be saved as memories. Now, they're almost like resumes. With this kind of pressure, is it even possible for Facebook to ever fully die out?
I think initially Facebook took over every newcomer's life, but after a while it becomes dull and redundant, the same people post the same pictures from a typical party with the same friends in attendance. At first, its fun to see what everyone else is up to or did last Saturday, but then people lose interest because every picture seems to be the same as the ones posted a week before. Of course, Facebook is a wonderful way to share your experiences with friends and stay in touch with those who live far away; but with all the other types of social media it seems so superfluous and somewhat of a hassle. You have to friend someone on Facebook, follow them on Twitter, and have their cellphone number; there are so many ways to communicate with so many people that it seems a little out of hand.
ReplyDeleteI never really was the type to upload a thousand photos to Facebook and expect 50 likes on each one, but as I see some people's constant uploads, I honestly wonder how much time they have on their hands that they can get all dressed up for a single profile picture. I'll admit I have done it once or twice, but now I find it silly and pointless to spend 15-20 minutes putting on makeup for a single "selfie" and wait around for 10 comments. Nowadays I just crop a picture I already have and barely go on Facebook unless someone contacted me first. I rarely post or am tagged in pictures because I think Dr. Saedi was right, some memories are great enough where you don't need a picture to prove it; if something is that wonderful you won't need a picture to remind you.
Believe it or not, I actually don't have a Facebook account. I've never had one and I don't really see a reason to have one right now. I'm constantly around the people I would friend on Facebook. If I want to talk to someone I text, e-mail, or call them. If I want to know what someone's trip was like, we make a point of hanging out and they'll either bring their camera or laptop and we'll go through pictures together and they'll talk about in depth descriptions or interesting stories behind each picture that I would have never heard had I simply been clicking through photos. For example, a close friend of mine went on the Germany trip and took a picture of a sign in one of the towns. Now, seeing that picture on Facebook I'd question why she took a picture of a street sign with a sun on it. Her personally showing me while we were together enabled me to hear that it was the identical sign that was in the Disney movie Tangled. Cool, right? Not if I had been looking at it through the eyes of Facebook. I'm certainly not the greatest example of the modern "norm" when it comes to technology. I don't have a Facebook, I don't have a Twitter, and I don't have texting - all by choice. I feel as though those things are meant to be tools, not necessities. When I graduate will I create a Facebook? Of course! Why do I need one now when I see the people I'd be friending every day in school? I feel as though as more and more people are starting to see how much technology is damaging their social skills and their overall life experience they'll begin to share my same opinion and start deactivating their Facebooks.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I feel as though Facebook can cause a tremendous amount of stress. How many times have you heard the scenario that goes something like, "Did you SEE what so and so said about you last night on Facebook?" or "Did you SEE that picture SHE was in with that boy you like?" If you didn't have a Facebook, those questions wouldn't concern you. For example, someone could say whatever they want about me on Facebook and I could live my life quite content never knowing what they thought about me. You can say anything that comes to your mind online but if you can't say it to my face, it becomes irrelevant.
I agree with the notion that Facebook is just another fad that is slowly but surely dying out. However, like Caroline said, it is only being replaced by other social-networking sites such as Twitter and Instagram. As humans, we want to be connected to the people we encounter in our lives, and the easier it is to stay connected, the better. The idea behind social-networking is to be able to stay in touch with friends, family, and other people you meet throughout your life in an easy, accessible way.
ReplyDeleteAlthough Facebook may be a fad that is fading out, it does not necessarily mean the idea behind social-networking sites is fading out as well. Yeah, you might deactivate your Facebook account, but how about your twitter or instagram, or even banish the internet from use all together? Since means of communication have progressed so much, it would be very hard to completely take yourself off the map in the world of social-networking. As Twitter and Instagram have replaced Facebook, they will no doubt be replaced by other social-networking sites to come, and the cycle will carry on. Since it is considerably easy and efficient to network and communicate using the internet, people will most likely be dependent on social-networking sites for a while.
The point I am trying to convey is that in this generation, social-networking sites in general have become such a significant part of our lives. I can honestly say that if I'm not not on Facebook, I'm on Twitter, and if I'm not on Twitter, I'm on Instagram, and the cycle goes on and on. I do not know anyone personally who does not participate in social-networking sites- even my grandparents have Facebooks and actively use them. I think that we have become so adjusted to being able to know what another person is doing at any time and any place with just a simple click of a mouse or touch of a screen that it is hard to completely give up a tool so useful, easy, and comfortable. I think it would also be extremely difficult and unlikely to revert back to older means of networking and communication, such as picking up a house phone to make a call or sending out a hand-written letter, even if those means of communication are more personal. The possibilities and opportunities of socializing-networking today are incredibly impressive and advanced, and I think at this point it would be hard to come up with an even easier and more efficient way of communicating with people (excluding face-to-face interaction). If this is the case, social-networking sites should be here to stay and an integral part of life for a very, very long time.
Sorry, this is Stephanie Galea! I didn't realize my name was just steph on here.
DeleteI absolutely agree with everything that is being said. Facebook is definitely not the huge phenomena it was a few years ago but it still affects our lives in a multitude of ways. Although it is dying down, there is no doubt in my mind that Facebook and other forms of social media are going to be around for a while. Facebook started with the intention of providing a way to connect people, allowing them to see into the lives of others, and it has continued to be a great way to stay in touch with those from the past. However, I sometimes find myself saying that if I really wanted to stay in touch with someone I would do so. If someone is really that important to me, they would not need to check Facebook to know what is going on in my life. In a way, Facebook makes it harder to see who your real friends are because with this site, there is no real reason to call a friend and find out what going on with them. Just because I feel this way does not mean that I do not enjoy browsing through my Facebook friends profiles because I do! I especially like looking at my college friends Facebooks. I find that it gives me a better feel for the schools and has helped my college search a little bit.
ReplyDeleteAnother question with Facebook that has been mentioned in the article is it is a false representation of ones life. People only post the positive things on Facebook when in reality, no one’s life is that glamorous all the time. Yet, when looking at someone’s Facebook page, one would think that that person’s life is free from any kind of suffering, pain, anxiety etc. Also, by taking the time to make your Facebook admirable to those you might look at it, you are missing out on living. It is time consuming to take a bunch of pictures, choose which ones show you in the best light, upload them and then see how many likes/comments you get on them. This time could be better spent taking in life and living in the moment. I personally do not take many pictures, I like to be fully invested in whatever I am doing and therefore, I do not interrupt my experience to document what I am doing. I do however have my friends take pictures and post their albums with me in it (kind of hypocritical I know).
I think that, like anything, Facebook has it’s positive and negative aspects. It is up to the individual to decide whether the pros out weight the cons or vice versa.
- Christine Unanue
I agree with both Christine and Steph. Facebook has both its positive and negative aspects, and our generation cannot imagine a life without it. I also believe that Facebook is fading out. I remember freshman year spending hours of time scrolling up and down my news feed and looking at other people's profile pages. Now, I'm lucky if I get on Facebook once a day. As others have said, Facebook is definitely being replaced with things such as Twitter, Instagram and Tumblr and in a few years I believe there will be different sites that everyone is "addicted" to.
ReplyDeleteWith us going through the college process this year I do feel that Facebook will effect it. Girls (including myself) are changing their profile names so colleges cannot find them and when people add what school they are going to I am sure others will ask themselves "why did they accept her and not me" or "when will I get my letter of acceptance or rejection". Without Facebook and other social media sites we probably would not even know what girls applied or got in to certain schools unless we were friends with them and talked to them frequently.
As others stated the original concept of Facebook was a good one, but today I think it can be a tad invasive. People do spend so much time on these social media sites that when they have to talk to others face to face they don't know what to do. It has also redefined the term 'friendship'. Are we really being true friends when we only have an electronic relationship with someone?
Dr. Saedi’s argument is true for most teens and even young adults. The person one is on Facebook may be nothing like they are in reality because they only post about the exciting things they do. This could bring others down and make them feel like a “failure”; however, for me when I see someone bragging about something they did or posting pictures of an event it reminds me to get off Facebook and go out and do something with my own life.
ReplyDeleteI realized that over the summer I don’t use Facebook as much as I do during the school year. Why? Procrastination. Facebook is something that I look though instead of doing my homework or starting my college process. When my schedule is filled with fun events and activities, I don’t find myself on Facebook at all. I had a similar experience to Susanne this summer when I went on my trip to Tanzania. I had no Facebook, no Twitter, no e-mail, yet I didn’t care nor did I think about it. I had plenty of chances to go to the internet café, yet I only used it once to e-mail my parents because my phone was not working. I did go to the café other times but as a social event to talk to the locals not go on Facebook or check Twitter. The locals there are actually more into Facebook than we are. Teens and even adults would tell me to “friend” them on Facebook or “like” their pictures (the few that they had.) Facebook is way different in other cultures. The Tanzanians that I am “friends” with on Facebook only have a maximum of five pictures and a maximum of two “likes” verses American teens who have hundreds of each. Since Tanzanians pay to use the café they only have limited time to check it so it is more precious to them; if we had a time limit on Facebook it would be special to us too.
Facebook is slowing down with people my age, of course there is that one girl who will post a new status every second, but for the most part I think people realize that no one really cares what they’re doing at that very moment. I personally don’t post statuses anymore and rarely add pictures unless they are worth sharing. Most people don’t realize that when they are posting something they are sharing it with however many “friends” they have, weather they know them or not. I recently went on a “deleting spree” and deleted over 500 people who I had no idea why I was friends with them in the first place.
One thing that really annoys me about Facebook is how people are in such a routine of having to “like” or “comment” on their best-friends profile pictures. I realized how creepy this was when I had to look back at my friends other profile pictures to see the generic responses to make sure I wasn’t saying the same thing. This proves that the comments are not all genuine and are mostly done out of routine. Now, not only are there the “likes” and the “comments” but there is a new aspect of “seen by” and it says the number of people who saw the post. I first realized this in the new IHA Class of 2013 group and it freaked me out that this is what Facebook is coming to. I have definitely cut down on my Facebook use over the years and only use it sparingly.
I don’t mean to be a negative Nancy, but I hate this article. To begin, I understand why people are commenting that facebook is declining considering how it did not meet expectations since it has gone public, and I also agree that it was much more exciting when I was a freshman than it is now. While I do understand that sentiment, I agree with those who commented that the idea of social media on the internet is not fading. We are blogging, BLOGGING, about how facebook is fading. We are using one internet tool to criticize another.
ReplyDeleteFurther, I don’t like that the article focused narrowly on the “stalker” side of facebook; using it solely to look at other peoples’ lives and whine and moan about how your life is not as good. She claimed that seeing other people post pictures of things you want, like a happy marriage and children, is like “a slap in the face”. I cannot relate to anyone who can become depressed by looking through other peoples’ facebook albums rather than go out and work for the things that they are so jealous of. This stalking is only one thing that people use facebook for, though. The idea of using the internet to communicate and share your ideas with others is comparable to the introduction of the printing press to make books widely available. Claiming that facebook is the new reality tv completely ignores the fact that it played a major role in spreading information during the revolutions that started with Arab Spring. Facebook helped people to liberate themselves and their countrymen from oppressive leaders. I am horrified that someone would liken it to reality tv shows.
Olivia, I definitely agree with your opinion that the article only focuses on one aspect of Facebook! It did play a major role in the Arab Spring, along with Twitter and several other sites, however, I think she only focused on this aspect of it simply because she was talking to a Western audience rather than that of activists and others around the world because Facebook is treated like a reality show by many people here unlike other sites (especially the blogging platforms, which tend to have a bit more of balance in them between everyday life, activism, and a plethora of other subjects). I don't think that Dr. Saedi meant to put down the activism that takes place on the internet and social-networking sites purposely because she may be unaware of the significant contributions it has made (though highly unlikely, I know) or because the word Facebook or social-networking doesn't exactly draw up an image of the brave activists that fought for their values with a new tactic. On another note, I definitely think that the virtual protester and activist, whether through Facebook or other sites, will become more and more prominent through the next coming years.
DeleteI am a person who rarely uses Facebook. I use it to talk to friends that go to other schools, my cousin who's now in college, and to stay updated about school because we have those senior group and club pages. Sure, I change my profile picture once in a blue moon or upload a picture so that my family can see it, but otherwise, it's kind of useless to me and serves as a distraction. So, I definitely believe that while the whole Facebook obsession is dying down in our generation (or at least for most us), it won't die out simply because it is so widely used for communication that is free of charge (unlike cell phones). I, like Devon, find that I only use Facebook more during the school year as opposed to the summer because I tend to procrastinate.
ReplyDeleteHowever, contrary to what Dr. Saedi says, I tend not to compare myself to others the few times I do go on Facebook, because I feel that it is unnecessary and I am content with the life I am living. I also don't feel left out or rejected if one of my friends posts a picture or status about something exciting or someone doesn't like one of my pictures, I find all that silly because I've probably already socialized with them in person the same day plus I enjoy my alone time so why should I feel the need to be involved in everything all day, everyday? I also agree with Devon about the fact that the newest feature of seeing how many people have viewed something, frightening and just odd- Do I really want to know how many people have seen my profile? Do I even care? No, not really. And this relates a lot to what Dr. Saedi mentioned about how that concept of self-love is so absent from Facebook- we simply should be living in the moment rather than worrying about what others will think of how we spend our own time. It is one's own life after all, isn't it?
I definitely agree with Dr. Saedi's view of everything in regards of Facebook taking over this generation. Although Facebook is very important to us now, I feel as though it is only a matter of time until it dies out. For example, before Facebook, there was Myspace and everyone had them in middle school and high school. Facebook is very popular now, but there is only a matter of time until a new social site is bought up. Instagram is becoming very popular due to the fact that you can upload as many pictures as you want and no one can judge you. On Facebook if you add a new profile picture every day then people start to get annoyed and stop liking your post.
ReplyDeleteRegarding Facebook, my biggest pet peeve was when people would upload pictures with the comment underneath "like the picture." What does that even mean? Are people really judged by how many likes they have on a picture? The answer to this from what I see is yes, by going through someone's default pictures, you can tell if the person is popular by how many likes they get on a photo. This generation judges people on their default picture instead of actually getting to know them. For this reason, I agree with Keara and I am lucky if I am on Facebook 3 times a week.
Due to the fact that people judge pictures, I believe that this will affect some peoples college choice. If someone sees that for example, someone from "Rutgers University" is adding photos every night of them partying than most people are going to assume it is a party school. This may not always be the case but Facebook has a way of exaggerating how fun your life is.
Even though Facebook photos are not an exact replica of how much fun you are having, I like the fact that I can feel as though I went to a concert by the amount of photos in someone album. I also like the fact that it can keep me in connect with all my real friends and not just "facebook friends" when we go off to college. Facebook gives us a chance to let us know how our friends are doing and what they have been up to. This summer I met some friends on vacation from Monclair which is about 40 minutes from my house. I was able to friend them on Facebook and still keep in touch with them. The only thing I need to do is cut back on accepting people I would not talk to if I saw them in person.
I could not agree more with Dr. Saedi. I feel that everything she said in her article was incredibly spot-on. I hate to make this all about social criticisms, but she is right in her observation that we spend too much time documenting life and not enough time just taking it in for ourselves. I face this problem constantly, and immediate camera-to-web photos have become the norm. In fact, my own mother, who claims to be "totally behind" and "unsavvy" in technology commented on my own lack of social networking this summer! In her defense, I was in England all summer without her, and I got too caught up in the fun I was having by myself to update her every two minutes. She told me she "wasn't seeing anything on Instagram!" and that's when I got really concerned.
ReplyDeleteI reminded her that as much of a photographer as I love to be, there is NO sense in walking the streets of historical castles while being buried in Facebook. There's that whole old saying about "stopping to smell the roses," and I think Facebook is the complete antithesis of that. My poor mother who so kindly let me fly across the pond myself just wanted an update, to see how I was doing and see what I was seeing, so I sympathized and posted a few scenic shots. But what I don’t tolerate are the people that feel the need to publicize their late-night trip to Taco Bell (usually drunk, as well.) NOBODY wants or cares to see that. Our desire to look Facebook-worthy has driven us to become an even more superficial society than we already are, and we all feel the same pressure to stay in the loop. I personally have been called a "Facebook snob" because it may take weeks for me to respond to a wall post. But just this week I had to log on to create a page for a club I run- and therein lies the ultimate two-sided debate of Facebook. Equally as useful as it is damaging. A necessary evil. A love-hate relationship, which I think most girls who commented above me agree with. We truly need to spend less time clicking away at those cathedral ceilings and more time tilting our heads back and enjoying, whether or not anybody else knows. We need to let social networking know it cannot have complete control over our actions.
After reading the article and many of everyone's comments, I actually think I will be deleting my Facebook soon... While reading what Dr. Saedi and my fellow IHA girls have to say about the website, I found myself nodding and smiling after nearly every sentence. As Cristina D. mentioned, Facebook has become such an integral part of everyone's lives that it is nearly impossible to not be guilty of knowing who was where last Saturday night. Even if I'm going on the website to message a friend about homework, there is never an instant where someone isn't sharing their new and exciting news, much of which is posted simply to get a "Like" or two, as observed by Dr. Saedi. What we all loved about Facebook (connecting personally with friends and being up to date on those you care about), I believe, is slowly starting to diminish.
ReplyDeleteA quote from the article that stood out to me was: "And frankly, what are you doing on Facebook all day long if you’re so popular and in demand?" I ask myself this very question every time I see a Facebook album of 200 pictures from one single event. While I'm sure people love sharing their oh-so-exciting lives with "family and friends" on Facebook, we all know there is often a tinge of "I want everyone, even strangers, to see what I did last weekend!" hidden behind a post or a picture. To me, this is what Facebook has become, a place for the attention-cravers to broadcast their lives. While I do have school and extra-curricular groups communicating with me through Facebook, and of course I love seeing what old friends are up to,I am now starting to think that the frustration and confusion caused by the Facebook-crazed are not worth keeping my account active, at least for now.
As far as Facebook fading out, I do think that it will eventually become less popular and relevant, as young adults are taking to other places to connect and share information. Twitter, for example, is Facebook on a smaller and more personal scale. I really only follow my friends and those I care to be updated on, and rarely ever find myself finding out more than I would want to, unlike with Facebook. As a senior applying to colleges, working a job, completing assignments, and maintaining a life outside of school, I am realizing that Facebook has little to offer me but brainless distractions from the real world. The article and its responses have certainly opened by eyes, and I think I am going to take the big step in de-activating myself from the Facebook world in the near future!
I have never had a Facebook and at this time in my life, I don’t want one. I always put off making a Facebook account because my parents always said that if I made an account on any website, I had to give them the username and password, and I didn’t want them to invade my privacy. Now, I still don’t want one because I don’t feel that it is necessary. If I want to know what my friends or doing or see their pictures, I text them or see them in person. I never really felt left out, even when my friends told me “you have to get a Facebook”. While I agree that Facebook is great for communicating with others, things like google documents, email, and texting all work the same. Many times the people I work with in group projects at school want to create a Facebook group in order to talk about the project and share information. I simply tell these people that I don’t have a Facebook, and we either email or set up a google document. I also feel that Facebook can be a big waste of time and I have enough distractions in my life. That said, maybe in the future I will create a Facebook account. I think Facebook is great for connecting with people who live far away and people that you might have lost touch with over the years. Right now in my life, though, I don’t need to reconnect with anyone or keep in touch with people who live far away. I also agree with many of you who said that Facebook use is declining. Now, many of my friends have told me that they don’t use their Facebook anymore or have deleted their accounts. I think, like any popular website, that Facebook will one day be replaced and forgotten, like MySpace. I think that Facebook can be a great tool, but I think that some people waste too much time and become too obsessed with their Facebook accounts.
ReplyDeleteI had a very similar experience as the one mentioned in the article. When I was in Italy this past summer, I visited the Sistine Chapel. Before entering, there were signs everywhere that we were not allowed to take pictures, so I put my camera away. However, when I walked inside, all you could hear was the incessant sound of the clicking of cameras. People feel the need to take pictures everywhere they go so badly that they even do it when prohibited just so they can post the pictures on facebook later on to show friends.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I definitely agree with everyone that Facebook is starting to die down. I especially realized this when a month had passed and I still hadn't uploaded my pictures from Italy onto Facebook yet when I used to upload pictures from a vacation immediately when I got home. This dying down definitely is not due to the fact that people are losing interest in what other people's lives are like. It is dying down because people have Instagram and Twitter. The feeds on these social networking sites are literally filled with what people are doing at the moment. For some reason, we are all so interested in what other people are doing all the time. Whenever people take pictures now, it is uploaded on instagram in the next couple minutes.
I definitely think Facebook has already started to influence my college process. One of the colleges I am applying to is partially based on pictures other people have uploaded from visiting the college, or what they have posted about it in Facebook statuses. There is definitely a downfall to this, because people are beginning to base their opinions of schools off the pictures and statuses on Facebook, which don't really give the full view of the school.
I think people mostly stay on Facebook in order to communicate in large groups such as our Senior Class group. However, people are using other networking sites to stay up to date on what is going on in other people's lives.
After reading these posts I can agree and relate to much of what everyone is saying. Facebook's popularity is fading, but I wouldn't quite say it's "dying out." After thinking about it I realized that our age group made up the majority of facebook users when it was at the peak of its popularity, which I feel was back around the time we were freshmen and sophomores. I think that maybe we are just growing out of it, and mindlessly scrolling through our newsfeeds, making statuses, and posting pictures simply isn't as big of a deal anymore with everything else going on in our lives. The reason I say that facebook may not be dying out just yet is because although to us it's becoming less popular, it has become increasingly popular among older/younger age groups. I know that I personally was getting a little tired of receiving friend requests from aunts and uncles, and seeing pictures and status updates from 5th graders from my elementary school.
ReplyDeleteAs for my overall opinion on the social networking site, I have decreased my usage significantly in the last few months. I actually went the entire summer without ever checking my newsfeed, updating a status, or posting a picture. I had wasted so much of my time doing these things during the school year that I had to make a conscious effort not to. I found myself enjoying my time off from school without ever feeling the need to broadcast my every move to my facebook friends. While I totally agree that facebook has its networking and social benefits, I do feel that it has changed the way we experience things. Instead of enjoying and truly experiencing a moment, we are more concerned with taking pictures or trying to figure out how to make the situation into a clever facebook status. In addition, facebook depression is something that has been increasingly talked about. People with low self-esteem can easily get caught up in the popularity contest that facebook has become, and make them feel like their lives are nothing compared to some other people's. In reality, people are only posting the most exciting events in their lives, giving a false portrayal of what their lives are really like. Researchers disagree on whether facebook itself can be the cause of depression or if it is simply an extension of already existing depression. Either way, it has become enough of an issue for it to be debated.
Here's the link to an article about facebook depression..I don't know how to hyperlink it yet sorry!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42298789/ns/health-mental_health/t/docs-warn-about-teens-facebook-depression/#.UFJjI7JmRAc
I think everyone made a lot of good points about Facebook. I agree on many things with Caroline. We all try to portray ourselves as having well balanced lives, having fun but also participating in educational, athletic, or art activities.
ReplyDeleteI think Facebook pictures, especially profile pictures, have made our generation very vain. We edit our pictures to make sure there are no noticeable flaws and try to present ourselves as attractive as we can. This makes many girls insecure because they want to have that perfect image like how other girls present themselves. And as much as we think the amount of "likes" depicts how popular we are, that is not true at all, especially in other parts of the country. My cousin who lives near Boston is in shock at the amount of Facebook likes I get. By her, "liking" is not as big of a deal as it is here in Jersey. She has commented on my picture, " 23 likes in 2 hours.... how do you do it" and "omg 71 likes i wish i was as popular as you..". My brother has written on my wall "like honestly how do you get 90 likes on your pictures. your absurd what do you pay people to like them?". He would tell my family at gatherings and it would become a conversation topic because it was a phenomenon to them. To be honest, the whole "liking" phase has died down significantly over the summer and I find it a good thing because it relieves the pressure of having to post a "successful" picture that will get you a lot of likes and comments.
Anyway, Facebook really has become an essential part of our lives for most of us. As much as it seems to be dying down, I know that I am not ready to deactivate my Facebook at least until the end of college because of communication purposes. In my opinion, the pros of Facebook outweigh the cons.
While it may be that the Facebook fad is wearing out, especially among my generation, the social networking craze is far from over. When I first joined Facebook as a eighth grader moving into my freshman year, the site was a useful tool. I could keep in touch with friends from middle school, add the girls from IHA, and learn everything about them, all before I ever stepped foot in high school. I would spend huge amounts of time everyday scrolling through the newsfeed, fascinated by the lives my friends posted. Recently, I have spent less and less time on Facebook in favor of using sites like Twitter and Instagram. The premise of these sites is the same though and remains enticing for internet users worldwide. The chance to have an inside look at your peers' lives is irresistible. However, this inevitably leads to comparisons between your life and the lives you see on Facebook. These comparisons are creating such ideas as Facebook "depression" and "addiction," as Gina Gardini brought up.
ReplyDeleteIt is essential that one keeps her grip on reality while scrolling through the seemingly interesting and exciting posts seen online. Consider how much time you spend manicuring your online profile: monitoring the pictures you're tagged in, uploading pictures from your vacations, and posting on your friends walls. I know I am not alone in trying to manage my online persona; everyone is guilty of it. Indeed, no one's Facebook is honest, but is actually used to put a spin on one's life for the world to see.
Another problem I've noticed with social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter is what I would loosely call narcissism in their users. Who actually cares what that girl from your sophomore year chemistry class is doing tonight? Who wants to know how much homework you have or how hungry you are? Sure, your close friends from the "real world" may care about these minor details, but the online masses you post to certainly do not. I know I use Facebook mostly for pictures, both posting mine and looking at others. I am entirely uninterested in the many random status updates. And yet, I continue to tweet what I think are interesting, clever, or relateable tweets, hoping that someone out there cares. Social networking sites have become a way for people to state their inner most thoughts, hoping that someone, somewhere feels the same. There is even a running joke that Twitter is a conversation with yourself, hoping someone else will join in.
I also agree that Facebook's popularity is dying down and that the idea of "Facebook depression" is real. While a teenager, girls are developing their identity and hopefully forming a positive self image. Facebook seems to have an extremely negative effect on girl's self esteem. In a society where we base our beauty on how many likes we get on our profile picture girls can't help but compare themselves to others. One quote that I strongly agree with is "After all, if your life is so wonderful and glamorous, then why do you feel the need to constantly prove the fact again, over and over? And frankly, what are you doing on Facebook all day long if you’re so popular and in demand?". If you are constantly posting pictures on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram of you and your friends having a blast together isn't that taking time out of your fun to pose for a picture? Don't get me wrong I enjoy taking pictures when I am all dressed up at a special event but if you spend the majority of your time creating a public image then how will you ever discover your real image? Also it seems that posting pictures at social gatherings causes a lot of drama involving who was invited where and who was left out. Overall, I don't believe that our society is ready to completely discard Facebook however I do believe that many people will stop using it in order to preserve their self image.
ReplyDeleteThe idea of Facebook - to connect, globalize, and deepen relationships - seems on paper very nice. Coming from a small, Catholic elementary school in New Milford, I created a Facebook account the summer before my freshman year to both keep in touch with old friends and establish contacts with new girls at school. I did neither. Although I will occasionally like a photo posted by a girl who sat behind me in seventh grade math class, at least in my own experiences Facebook has done very little to connect me with old friends. And while I certainly have been guilty (and grateful) of late night messages/pleas for help to classmates the night before an assignment is do, I spend more of my time on Facebook looking at my friend's sister's boyfriend's cousin's wedding album and trying to figure out how I have friend requests from Muhammad (zero mutual friends) and Lord Voldemort (who I am currently in a poke war with). As an IHA student in honors and AP classes with two jobs and looming college applications, I certainly have better things to do with my time. I don't find any time spent on Facebook to be useful, productive, or interesting, so I can definitely understand why it may be losing its attractiveness.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, I also think Facebook's decreasing popularity can be attributed our understanding and acceptance of its negative effects on society and on individuals. If you're like me, you feel the need to restrain yourself every time you see a default photo changed to a half-naked girl making the "duck face" pose with a caption reading "uhh I'm so ugly!! :'(" First of all, put on clothes. Colleges don't want to see it, future employers don't want to see it, and I certainly don't want to see it either. Secondly, it cannot be more obvious that people like that are just fishing for compliments. Nothing bothers me more than seeing photos of scantily clad girls with 137 likes, posted 3 minutes ago. I think that this greatly impairs girls' abilities to be confident in themselves; to embrace and express their personalities; to communicate; to establish relationships based on respect rather than popularity. On the other side of the coin, I also think constantly seeing things like this can negatively affect girls with low self-esteem who may be insecure about their bodies.
I think, at least for my age group, people have gotten tired of Facebook’s nonsense. What once seemed exciting and mature (let’s be honest, we all felt older when our parents FINALLY allowed us to create an account) is now pedestrian and mundane. Naturally with a few exceptions, Facebook doesn’t really seem to offer anything outside the range of indifferent to negative. Although I will continue to use my account, to poke Lord Voldemort, to block my profile from Muhammad, and to look at the “girl I kind of know from freshman year’s” pictures, I like many people my age understand that Facebook is, at its best, unfulfilling, and it is that feeling that contributes to Facebook’s decline as a social networking powerhouse.
Like many of the other girls who have posted above, I agree that Facebook popularity has declined over the past few years. However, while the fascination of Facebook is decreasing, I still find myself checking it everyday, almost like a daily ritual. I think that part of the reason why I continue to check Facebook despite it's lack of appeal is because I am constantly tempted to compare my life to my friends' lives -- or the lives they appear to live on Facebook.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first read this article, it immediately reminded me of a Channel One news story that was aired during homeroom of Sophomore Year. I made the effort to find this news story, called Facebook Envy (http://www.channelone.com/video/facebook-envy/). According to this video, studies have shown that Facebook can have a negative impact on peoples' mood. It can lead to a sort of "Facebook depression" or a "Facebook envy" because we end up comparing ourselves to one part of someone else's life. It's almost as if we want to compete with our friends, but it actually has a negative impact on our own attitude and confidence. I definitely agree with what this study has to say about Facebook having a negative impact on our mood because I know that I, myself, am guilty of viewing my friends' pictures on Facebook and, as a result, feeling like I've been deprived of an experience. Facebook can be identified as both a positive and negative tool for people all around the world. It is a great tool for connecting with old friends or with family that one doesn't see often. But, when one becomes so enticed by the "perfect" lifestyle that a friend portrays on his or her Facebook, that is when the site can become damaging to our moods and attitudes.
For me personally, I find Facebook itself to be very boring, but I believe that what captivates me is my friends' profiles and the desire to know how they live their lives on a daily basis. I am constantly concerned with what others are posting and it becomes a huge distraction for me that also does make me question the . For this reason, I deleted my Facebook twice last year -- once from October to November, and the second time from January to February. I felt so overwhelmed from all of the work I was assigned and from having to balance my busy schedule between school, sports, and chores. While my Facebook was deleted, I did not feel left out at all. Actually, I felt very proud to say that I had deleted my Facebook. I almost felt as if it was a very mature thing to do and it showed that I had some sort of self-control. Facebook can be very addicting and damaging to one's mental health. One just has to be careful not to confuse reality with the truth -- that nobody's life is as perfect as they make it out to be on Facebook.
I use Facebook to connect with friends who I have lost touch with over the years. I definitely do not
I definitely agree with Carly’s idea that Facebook is not necessarily dying out; it has simply become more popular with a younger demographic. Facebook was far more functional during my freshmen and sophomore years, as I was excited to enter the new world of high school. It was a way of becoming familiarized with the new faces that would be a part of my high school experience for the next couple of years, and it was a way to become acquainted with girls outside of the classroom through homework questions and making plans for the weekend. Generally, at this point in my life I was very interested in what kids my age were doing on the weekend and even felt a sense of comfort and acceptance knowing I could compare my social life to theirs. By the end of my sophomore year I remember having almost 2,000 friends, most of which I had never met.
ReplyDeleteHowever, my perspective of Facebook changed as I matured.
I remember during the summer going into my junior year, I was approached by an unfamiliar guy around my age in the mall who told me he “knew me from Facebook.” It was at that point I became really creeped out by Facebook and come to a realization: I don’t have 2,000 friends--I can probably count the number of actual friends on one hand; why do I feel the need to make all of my photos and personal information available to every kid I don’t know in Bergen County? When I went home, I managed to get my friend list down to about 400 people. But even then, I felt- and still feel- that Facebook completely violates my privacy.
Consequently Junior and Senior year was followed by a decreased interest in what others are doing, and generally a decreased interest in Facebook in general. Perhaps the site itself had become far less interesting when my newsfeed was filled with statuses and pictures of people I actually knew. This strikes the question: Why are we more naturally more intrigued by the lives of those who are outside of our social circles? While we may poke holes at the girls who upload hundreds of “selfies” to Facebook, or those who mobile upload a photo every time they’re at a party, or those who post statuses about what they fed their cat for dinner, but we are responsible for choosing to make them a part of our worlds of Facebook, and for choosing to keep them there.
Although deactivating your Facebook is the easiest way of ensuring Facebook doesn’t take over your life, a component of your social life will be missing as our generation has developed a dependency on the Facebook newsfeed as a means of staying updated with our classmates and friends who we may not have the time to talk to on a daily basis. In my opinion, the better option is to simply delete the Facebook friends that don’t matter and keep the ones that do, in order to take control of your Facebook without letting it take control of you.
I can safely say that in doing this I rarely mindlessly browse on Facebook anymore. I get notifications sent to my phone to avoid the distractions that my newsfeed may bring, and I only go on my browser to update the occasional photo album or ask a classmate for homework help.
The bottom line: as we mature, we naturally desire a sense of privacy and become less interested in others’ lives not only because we’re more focused on our agendas, but also because we begin to stop constantly comparing our own lives with the over exaggerated lives that are presented to us by our Facebook friends.